Griffin Claw Brewing Company

This is great place to go with friends for a drink and that’s just what I did yesterday. The layout and ambiance was what I expected from a brewery. It had multiple long picnic style tables. I’m honestly not a fan of the notorious Raggedy Ass IPA. I never have been and never will be but, I enjoyed trying some of their other beers. Namely, I liked their Pilsner.
I got the warm beer cheese dip which was bomb. I loved that it came with fried zucchini and pretzels to dip in the cheese. Yum! The entrée selection wasn’t much to talk about. I ended up with the chicken caesar salad. It was good but caesar salads are pretty generic so I’m not sure if I would give them points for it. My hubby got the portobello risotto. He said that was good but the next time he wants to try the «colonel rides again» or whatever it’s called.
My only real complaint was the seating process. It was open seating, at 6pm on a Saturday. You can imagine it was packed and I felt like it kind of got cut throat trying to snag a table as people were getting up. That was lame. I’m interested in coming back in the summer.

Griffin Claw is the best, most consistent brewery around. Their beer and food are both fantastic and in addition the staff have never led me wrong.

Came for drinks, but have yet to try the food. I have to definitely come back with an appetite.

Wow, I am uncomfortably full. This place has some great food. Our party of four tried the Beer Cheese Dip (I think that is what it was called) and it came with soft pretzel bites, fried zucchini, and tortilla chips. It all had great flavor, but I wouldn’t recommend following this with The Chicken Colonel. That was too much fried food. I also had the chili, which was great. It wasn’t as good as my Dad’s chili, which is the best chili of all time, but this was good stuff. The Chicken Colonel was chicken (chicken thighs) and waffles, but instead of waffles it came with two fantastic pieces of French Toast made out of Challah Bread. The chicken was warm and juicy with the perfect amount of seasoning and breading and that was the best french toast I have had. Delicious!

One of my new year’s resolutions was to partake in less recreational beer drinking, both for budget and weight concerns. Welp, on January 2^nd I rolled up here and that plan was torched to the ground.
Beer is, well Griffin Claw so you know the beer.
Really liked the vibe inside, very open air and communal tables which I enjoy. Food wise my table enjoyed all of the following:
Appetizer sampler, Bang Bang shrimp tacos, chili, chicken wings, and fish and chips.
I won’t detail the items my friend had as he’s a Unilocaler and may wish to review. I had the Chili, Wings, and Fish & Chips.
— Chili: Oh man, wow. Like they simmered the stock on it’s own, prepared the tender hamburger and black beans on the side then hand crafted my cup of chili.
— Wings w/​blue cheese: Standard franks buffalo I got on this one, could have been crisper.
— Fish & Chips: Fries have that crunchy crumbly exterior like they are floured and twice friend. Fish was battered haddock, good flavor not greasy and looked like a long john silver fillet. The dill tartar sauce is where’s it’s at.

I have been here twice and I like it each time I have came.
It’s just a cool place to have food. They have long picnic tables and actual tables to.
I was unsure bringing my 4 month old here. But, to my surprise, every couple (not kidding) every couple last Sunday had children or infants with them. It made me feel that much for comfortable.
The food is awesome and not bad in quality or price. The shrimp tacos are heaven and the pretzel stick appetizer… I could eat 3 servings of them — yep! It’s that good.
I like it here and I will be back. :)

I’m sad to say, it has finally happened. Gone are the days where craft brewing came with a sense of rebellion and dedication to great tasting beer. Instead, the dollar reigns king and customer service has fallen by the wayside at Griffin Claw.
As we waited at the bar for any of kind of service, to simply be acknowledge by the hipster bearded staff, we checked out their of menu of beers and got genuinely giddy about our future partaking of awesome brews. Alas, our dreams where shattered as we were unapologetically informed that our industry standard 64oz. growlers were «unfillable.» Even though this «wasn’t the bartender’s rule,» they only fill their own pretentious «Griffin Claw» growlers.
This wasteful, arrogant, and flat out greedy system at Griffin Claw has scewed our perception of craft brewing, showing us that they think they’re ‘too small to fail’ and are pinching pennies together without a care in the world for their customers. Dear readers, Griffin Claw is more like Slytherin if you ask me.

Great beer, good food… nice atmosphere.
Prices are a bit high.
Biggest complaint — so easy to fix. Stop using the nearly toxic industrial pink goo hand soap in the restrooms! Everyone comes out with potent smelling hands (like the janitorial closet in a middle school)…and then you can’t enjoy the beer or the food! The nearly toxic hand soap smell overpowers and assaults for hours! For goodness sakes… provide some nice quality soaps for your valued customers. This is friggin Birmingham! You are charging an arm and a leg. Your beer is supreme. Yet, one dose of crap grade hand soap can ruin the whole experience! FIX IT! EVERYTHING MATTERS!

Beers and food, food and beers — isn’t this what life is all about?
I can’t believe it took me so long to finally go here, but I did last weekend for a friend’s birthday and it was a great time. For having about 12 of us there, the service was spectacular, the food was delivered promptly and the seating arrangement was legitimate.
My two friends saved a couple long tables about an hour or so before everyone arrived, at 7 p.m. The tables kind of reminded me of One Eye’d Betty’s, in that they are picnic table style and strangers may share tables if the parties are smaller. It is comfortable, for a while, until your butt goes numb. I like to stand a lot, anyhow, so it was no problem.
The beers here are really good, and they brew them all. They also have flights. My favorites were: 1) Norm’s Raggedy Ass IPA (7.25%) — «No corners are cut to brew our World Beer Cup champion Norm’s Raggedy Ass IPA. The key is in the giant, wonderful combination of piney, citrusy, and fruity hops with a surprisingly low malt profile. In other words, this is a powerhouse beer but it won’t make you drowsy. You’ll probably just want to order another pint.» 2) El Rojo Red Ale (6.5%) — Our bronze medal winning El Rojo Red Ale has a malty, roasted flavor profile. Entered in competition as an English brown, the El Rojo is really more of an American Red — bigger than Scottish Reds with a beautiful ruby red color and a rich, roasty, caramel body.
The menu is one page of appetizers and entrees, which really helps. It’s your best beer-​n-​food combos, too, like mac ‘n cheese (which was good, but not nearly as good as places like Hopcat), burgers of all kinds, etc. I ordered a pulled pork sandwich, which came on a burger bun with cole slaw and onion straws. Very good! The bun held up, at least for a while. The sauce on the pulled pork was great. It came with fries, which were above average as well (different texture than traditional crack fries).
I also tried a couple apps. The Bavarian pretzel sticks seem to be served anywhere there’s beer nowadays, but they were good with the sauce. But the mac ‘n cheese tater tots — holy crap! Those were amazing. Served with this berry dipping sauce, it was the perfect combo. I could have eaten them all, honestly, and that was after dinner.
The place is homey, and in the winter they have the traditionally outside-​located patios under a roof. Or, you can take your beers and sit outside next to fire pits. The place is packed and if you come with a big party, you better plan ahead and show up early.
Great beers, great food, great service, great time.

A pleasant surprise. Beer was really solid; the Raggedy Ass IPA and Screamin Pumpkin were excellent. We had the pickle fries with bbq aioli dipping sauce — those were incredibly delicious. Had the Mac and Cheese with chicken (very good) and husband had the bacon grilled cheese (highly recommend). Will definitely go back when we’re in town!

Wow this place was such an awesome surprise. I didn’t do much research other than seeing the great Unilocal reviews so I decided to go. It’s not your normal restaurant, they have communal seating so long benches close to strangers who will soon become friends. There is a great atmosphere here and everyone is super nice so come with a good attitude and you’re sure to have a great time.
There is a good beer selection of which I tried the Oktoberfest and Pilsner… both very tasty.
The food is good. I had the burger which was nothing to rave about but still decent.
Overall the experience was surprisingly good and I am sure to go back.
Keep up the good work

I have nothing but great things to say about my experience that I had here at Griffin Claw. We came on a Sunday night for a late dinner to see what this place is all about. I have enjoyed their beers on draft at other locations, but I wanted to go to the source!
It is located a bit northeast of downtown Birmingham in a residential area. There’s is plenty of street parking. They may have a parking lot adjacent to their location as well.
The brewery itself is huge, it has roughly a 12 seat bar inside with multiple picnic tables inside. They also have an enclosed patio that’s heated. TVs are everywhere inside to watch your favorite game. The outside patio is beautiful, with heating lamps picnic tables, and a fire pit to enjoy drinks.
We looked at the beer list which was expansive. I decided to get a flight of their Bourbon Brown, an Octoberfest, a Hefeweizen, and their Screamin’ Pumpkin. The only one I wasn’t a fan of was the pumpkin ale, it was very sweet, didn’t taste much else except for pumpkin. But that is just personal preference. The Bourbon Brown made up for it. It was smooth, with a clean finish, and subtle hints of the bourbon barrel it fermented in.
We also got a Philly French Dip with Au Jus, and a pulled pork sandwich. Both were fantastic! The fries were battered and very crunchy as well.
Service overall here was perfect. Our waiter came back to check on us multiple times and was recommending his favorite beers.
Overall: a great hangout outside the downtown chaos of Birmingham. And great beer. I will be back.

The atmosphere is very nice. You’re in a more residential area which is interesting to me, but the way the venue is split between inside and outside is great especially since the weather was great. It is communal sitting which I actually enjoyed, my server got to me in great time and all my drinks and food came out in great time as well (went on a Saturday).
I like the food, it’s good but not excellent. I got the beer cheese combo app and the cheese is great along with the fried zucchini and pretzels. The pretzels are extremely soft and I recommend those if you go as a starter (most of the Unilocalers will agree). I had the Big Bang shrimp tacos and they were bomb. Shrimp had some nice heat and slaw really sort of cooled it down to give you a really nice taste. Let’s be honest, the beer is suppose to be the highlight and the food is suppose to be the compliment.
I liked most of the beers I had. I had 8 different kinds and I liked maybe like 4 – 5. Some of them I just tried to give them a shot. Raggedy ass IPA is a very popular one and it does taste nice, but it’s not super bitter so I think for people looking to venture into the IPA game, it might be a solid starter. Give all of them a shot and find out which one you like. You can’t go wrong with a flight if it’s your first time trying there beers.
I was overall impressed, I liked the area and the food and beer were both good so I can’t complain. I still think Founders may be my favorite brew that Michigan has to offer from what I have tried so far. Make it out here at least one time if you can!

sorry, couldn’t complain even if I wanted to.
Our waiter (I wish I remembered the name) provided immaculate service! Perfectly friendly, knowledgeable, perceptive and would be there every time one of us just took the last sip of beer. Haven’t been served this well probably ever (talking to you gentleman with plugs and a bun).
Moving on: Food was good, their fries are to die for. I love how they have a carb-​free option on the dinner menu for weird people with dietary restrictions like myself, and the soup I ordered wasn’t just taken out of the devil’s oven! brownie points!
Their beer menu provides a bitterness scale, I’m so happy someone understands the importance of this detail. Home brews are fantastic. please try their red and pumpkin ale because they’re world class.
I’d describe their ciders as artfully crafted, a connoisseur choice: not very sweet, full of natural aroma, quite different from the mainstream options.
Prices are on a mid-​high end. Expect to pay $ 50+ for two people. Not like this is a high price, but some people like to be shocked that Birmingham dining doesn’t cost as much as Aplebee’s dinner lol.
If you won’t be blown away by Griffin Claw, you definitely won’t find anything wrong with your experience at the very least. These guys are solid in every detail. Great comfort choice.

Atmosphere: 5 stars
Food: 4.5 stars
Beer: 3 stars
Service: 3.5 stars
Michigan is getting cooler! I haven’t been home in a while, but that patio was a really fun place to spend an evening hanging out. I wasn’t a big fan of the beer (and we tried all but three beers on the menu), but the food was GREAT, and the service was friendly. (I couldn’t tell if they were not attentive or just giving us some space while we were hanging out. I think it was the latter, though — I didn’t feel ignored at all!)

Love the Norm’s Raggedy Ass IPA! And yeah, the name is also cool. We stopped in here on a Sunday afternoon to sample beers and came back Tuesday because my husband had to have their Nightmare on Eton Street ridiculously hot burger. He loved it, by the way — waaaayyy too hot for me!
We sat at the bar both visits because that’s our favorite way to visit a brew pub. Service was great both times. It was happy hour on our Tuesday visit & I spied potstickers for $ 5 on their menu — DONE! Fun little munch with a great presentation. In fact the 2 guys sitting next to me at the bar ordered it instantly after they saw mine come out.
We loved the IPA so much we bought some cans at the local Kroger (per our bartender’s suggestion) to bring home to PA with us!

Came in here initially to try their brews and just loved the space. Sat at the bar and the bartender was very friendly and allowed us a sample or two before we ordered. I already knew what I wanted (IPA, naturally) but I did like (and order) their pale ale as well.
Although we weren’t there for food, we did peruse their menu and decided that we had to come back another day for more beer and to try some food! One item in particular had my attention and I couldn’t wait to come back and order it. A burger called Nightmare on Eton Street listed with a caution of «no returns cause it’s too hot wah!» I’m a huge hot and spicy food guy. I always order the hottest, spiciest thing I can find. Thai food? I order Thai hot — above 10. Wings? Atomic, Hellfire, or whatever the hottest is. Indian? Bring on the heat. But burgers are a different situation. Despite the menu claims, it’s difficult to find a burger that’s blazing, sweat inducing hot. I’ve searched far and wide and have found quite a few over the years. While this isn’t the hottest I’ve ever had, it gets added to my list as a top 10 candidate. it is freaking spicy! Yay!
A half pound of juicy beef topped with chipotle, fresh jalapeño, onion and garlic, chipotle aioli, and ghost pepper cheese served on a pretzel bun. This thing is fabulous! It’s not suitable for 95% of their customers but for me? Yep, it was made for me. Loved it. It’s freaking hot and leaves your tongue tingling long after you’ve finished. My wife’s Asian pot stickers were a big hit with her and the two guys next to us at the bar who ordered them after seeing hers come out.
Let me get back to the beer. Their motto is «we make beer because no one should have to drink swill». And they do it incredibly well. Their Norm’s Raggedy Ass IPA is one of the best craft IPA’s I’ve had in a long time. I loved it. In fact, when I found out they put it out in cans, I went to 5 grocery/​liquor stores before I could find it to take some home with me. I’m glad I did. My next trip to the area WILL include a stop back at Griffin Claw. I’ll be at the bar drinking and sweating from the forehead with a huge smile on my face.

Been here several times and enjoy every visit! They have the best buffalo wings I’ve tasted around here. And the beer selection is top notch. Notably, love the third rail tripel and norms raggedy ass. Theres a little something for everyone.
I’ve tried a variety of their burgers, all have been good. I don’t particularly love the pretzel bun (too salty for me) but they can switch it out with a brioche.
They have a nice looking patio which is community seating. I usually sit at the bar however.
The venue is tucked away in a neighborhood area, sort of secluded.

Griffin Claw is a great Brewery that has a great selection of beer and food. I love that it is located off the beaten path, tucked away in the rail district of Birmingham.
Griffin Claw’s selection of beers is top notch. Whether you are an IPA, ale or fruit beer lover there is sure to be something on the menu for everyone. I’m a big fan of getting a flight so that I can try new beers with out the commitment of a large size.
The food is surprisingly delicious also. I had their grilled cheese with 4 cheeses and bacon and it was amazing. In the past I had the morning glory burger that was also great and my friend ordered the chicken sandwich and the Eton burger and everyone loved their food.
They have a nice outdoor patio area as well as inside seating. The only downfall is the seating is first come first serve, seat yourself. There are quite a few «picnic tables» that are communal, so if it’s busy plan to sit with others and make new friends.

Solid food, and great drinks! I came with a group of friends, and some had been here before, and some didn’t. I was among the «hadn’t been there» group, and I was very happy with my experience!
I scored a lucky parking spot behind the restaurant, and arrived around 6:15pm on a Thursday night. My group had already arrived, and the place was hopping! We grabbed a bench seat outside on the patio, and since it was a warm day, it was perfect!
The six of us occupied a small bench, and the drinks quickly arrived. I wasn’t sure what to get, but since I’m a fan of anything with a fruit-​infused flavor, I went ahead with a Lemon Tripel Session. A Belgian Tripel, it had great body and flavor without being too hoppy. Considering that it had 4.5% alcohol, I felt confident enough that I could finish it and be able to drive home. Yes, I am a weakling when it comes to alcohol tolerance. :P
For food, I ordered their tacos, which had grilled mahi and an excellent slaw mixture. To me, tacos are not the same without a slaw or vegetable mix. The mixture was springy, crunchy, and not overly dressed. One order had 3 big size tacos in a flour tortilla, and a small dish of pico de gallo. All refreshing on a warm day. For the price at $ 15, it was a good value. I ate one, and took the other two home for Husband, to which he devoured in less than 10 minutes, and gave me two thumbs up. :)
As a group, we ordered 3 apps: pretzel sticks, mac and cheese bites, and pickle fries (all $ 8). Out of the three, the mac and cheese bites were my favorite. I haven’t found a place that makes that, so that’s what sticks out to me for this place.
I also liked the décor, which errs on the industrial side. It’s not what you’d predict for Birmingham, but with the train tracks nearby, it fits. Prices, as many people have mentioned, are a bit high, but I don’t mind paying because the food and drinks are good. Service was fine, but nothing mind-​blowing hospitable, but the hostess was super sweet.
Overall, I’d come back if I was in the area, and would solidly recommend those fish tacos to those who are seafood lovers! Next on the agenda, the burgers everybody raves about! :)